CHAPTER 702: CHAPTER 345: DO YOU WANT THE TENTH BROTHER TO LOSE ME AS HIS FOURTH BROTHER?

In the Imperial Study, the Emperor was not diligently engrossed in reviewing memorials as usual but instead supporting his face with both hands, sighing heavily.

"Sigh... sigh... sigh..."

Sun Kui, standing beside him, couldn’t bear listening any longer. He had been hearing the Emperor sigh all day. He hesitated for a moment and decided to interrupt the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, you have sighed hundreds of times. What’s troubling you?"

The Emperor, with a troubled face, said, "Xiao Xiao is angry with me, she won’t talk to me." As he spoke, his face showed an aggrieved expression, "No matter how I try to appease her, she ignores me. What do you think I should do?"

It turned out the Emperor was sighing because of this, and Sun Kui felt no sympathy whatsoever.

"Your Majesty, you were indeed at fault in this matter, so it’s only right that Lady Liang is upset with you." It would be strange if Lady Liang wasn’t angry.

"That brat, Tenth, is perfectly fine, isn’t he?" The Emperor lay on the imperial desk, his chin resting on his crossed hands, "That brat, Tenth, is now living a very good life in Jinling, eating and drinking to his heart’s content."

"Your Majesty, while the Tenth Prince is fine now, he was previously captured and in danger. You didn’t send anyone to rescue him, so it’s only natural that Lady Liang is angry." Sun Kui couldn’t understand the Emperor’s thinking. He knew the Tenth Prince was in danger and almost lost his life, yet the Emperor wouldn’t send the Hidden Guards to rescue him. "If it weren’t for the Tenth Prince’s own cleverness, he would have ended up being fed to the fish in the river."

"I knew that brat had the ability to save himself, which is why I didn’t send anyone to rescue him." The Emperor propped his right elbow on the desk, his right hand supporting his face, a proud smile on his lips. "If he didn’t even have that ability, that would be truly disappointing to me."

"Your Majesty, if you want to test the Tenth Prince, you shouldn’t choose a place as dangerous as Jinling." Sun Kui felt unjust for Zhao Yao, "The people in Jinling are all ambitious wolves, not paying the slightest regard to the Tenth Prince. If he is careless, have you considered the consequences, Your Majesty?"

"If that brat, Tenth, were truly in danger, the Hidden Guards would naturally save him." Of course, the Emperor wouldn’t really put his younger son in mortal danger.

"Your Majesty, have you thought about what you would do if the Hidden Guards failed to rescue the Tenth Prince in time?" Sun Kui thought the Emperor had gone too far this time.

"The Hidden Guards couldn’t possibly fail to rescue Tenth." The Emperor smiled, "The Hidden Guards have always been by Tenth’s side. If he were really in danger, they would immediately save him."

"Are you so certain the Hidden Guards are by the Tenth Prince’s side at all times?"

The Emperor raised his eyes to look at Sun Kui, his expression suddenly becoming very stern.

"Are you questioning my Hidden Guards, or are you questioning me?"

Seeing the Emperor angry, a chill ran through Sun Kui’s heart, and he hastily apologized, "This servant dares not."

"I’m noticing you’re getting bolder nowadays..."

The Emperor hadn’t finished speaking, frightening Sun Kui into kneeling on the ground instantly.

"This servant knows his fault, I plead for Your Majesty’s forgiveness."

"Alright, get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sun Kui trembled as he stood up.

"Xiao Xiao is so smart, she must know I’d never truly let Tenth be in danger. Why do you think Xiao Xiao is still so angry?"

Sun Kui didn’t dare to speak further and lowered his head, standing silently to the side.

Seeing Sun Kui remain silent, the Emperor nudged him with his foot.

"Speak."

"This servant is afraid of saying the wrong thing and angering you."

The Emperor chuckled angrily, "I pardon you."

Only then did Sun Kui dare to speak, "Your Majesty, Lady Liang is indeed intelligent, but she’s also the Tenth Prince’s mother. Which mother wouldn’t be angry knowing her son narrowly escaped death?" Thankfully, when the Tenth Prince was captured, Lady Liang didn’t know. Otherwise, had she known, she would have rushed to Jinling to save the Tenth Prince without regard for herself.

"I just want to train Tenth, let him see the dangers outside, and see if he can escape them on his own." The Emperor didn’t think there was anything wrong with his actions, after all, Tenth was to succeed him in the future. "I sent him to Jinling not for leisure."

"Your Majesty, you explained this to Lady Liang, yet she’s still upset?"

"Xiao Xiao is usually very rational."

"Lady Liang is indeed rational normally, but this concerns the Tenth Prince. If she were as rational as usual, wouldn’t she then be a bit too heartless?"

The Emperor thought for a moment and felt that Sun Kui’s words held some truth.

"Your Majesty, Lady Liang is acting out of maternal love," Sun Kui said, "Any consort would feel the same as Lady Liang."

"What do you think I should do?" the Emperor asked, his face full of worry.